Hazelnut (Jefferson)
Corylus avellana 'Jefferson'
A breakthrough hybrid hazelnut developed by Oregon State University that combines excellent nut quality with strong disease resistance. This compact tree produces abundant clusters of medium-sized nuts with exceptional flavor and thin shells that crack easily. Jefferson is perfect for home orchards, offering reliable harvests and manageable size for backyard growing.
Harvest
150-180d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
4–8
USDA hardiness
Height
12-20 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Hazelnut (Jefferson) in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 nut-tree →Zone Map
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Hazelnut (Jefferson) · Zones 4–8
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Soil: High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Shallow Rocky. Soil pH: Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 6-feet-12 feet. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Layering, Root Cutting, Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The fruit, in the form of a nut, is enclosed by a short leafy involucre, or husk. They appear in clusters of 1 to 5 and are released from the husk in late summer when the nut has ripened. The rounded nuts are about 1" in diameter.
Color: Brown/Copper, Gold/Yellow. Type: Nut. Length: 1-3 inches. Width: 1-3 inches.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Spring
Edibility: Hazelnuts (cobnuts) are edible, and this plant is used in the production of these nuts.
History & Origin
Origin: Europe and Western Asia
Advantages
- +Attracts: Songbirds
- +Wildlife value: Birds, squirrels, and field mice often eat the nuts. Bees are attracted to the pollen.
- +Edible: Hazelnuts (cobnuts) are edible, and this plant is used in the production of these nuts.
- +Low maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Comfrey
Deep roots bring up nutrients, leaves provide mulch and attract beneficial insects
Chives
Repels aphids and improves soil health around tree base
Nasturtiums
Trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, attracts beneficial predatory insects
White Clover
Fixes nitrogen in soil and provides living mulch under canopy
Elderberry
Attracts pollinators during hazelnut flowering season and beneficial insects
Yarrow
Attracts beneficial wasps and predatory beetles, improves soil structure
Dill
Attracts parasitic wasps that control aphids and other hazelnut pests
Serviceberry
Compatible understory shrub that attracts pollinators and beneficial birds
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to hazelnut trees and inhibits growth
Eastern Red Cedar
Hosts cedar-apple rust which can spread to nearby fruit and nut trees
Sunflowers
Allelopathic compounds inhibit growth of nearby woody plants including hazelnuts
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2515375)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Excellent resistance to Eastern Filbert Blight and bacterial blight
Common Pests
Filbert weevil, aphids, mites, squirrels
Diseases
Eastern Filbert Blight (resistant), bacterial blight (resistant)